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Genography and Biological Determinism

Genography, Biological Determinism, and Stephen J. Gould

The subject of genography and genetic ancestry triggers uneasiness
due to its association with racist genetics, eugenics, and biological
determinism. As written by Gould in his ‘Mismeasure of Man’, the notion
that “the social and economic differences between human
groups—primarily races, classes, and sexes—arise from inherited, inborn distinctions and that society,
in this sense, is an accurate reflection of biology…” is not
scientificallly sustainable. The study of environmental genography is
in complete accord with Gould’s verdict.

Genography does not purport to explain social differences on the
basis of genetics. However, the fact that these associations are not
biologically determined does not negate the fact that associations do
exist between ancestral genetic haplogroups and certain contemporary
aspects of society and culture. For instance, it is possible to examine
access to, or use of, certain natural resources according to ancestral
haplogroup.
Similarly, it is possible to estimate current population densities of
the ancestral haplogroups. These are but two example applications of
genographic data for social science and policy purposes. I think
Gould’s point is that these differences are not pre-determined; they
are rather management choices.

Therefore, while genetic differences are not determinative of social
and economic differences, looking at social data through the lens of
ancestral genetics can provide important information as to the actual
state of the distribution of many social goods across the globe as well
as the morality of these distributions. Furthermore, there is no reason
to reject the hypothesis that social and economic differences between
human groups are the result of cultural differences and that these cultural differences are in turn associated (albeit not caused) with ancestral genealogies.
That these associations may be arbitrary and not biologically
determined does not negate their existence nor the utility of studying
the associations, nor does it deny the possibility that ancestral
genetic haplogroup formations precede and are likely to be a causative
factor in the divergence and geography of human cultures from
prehistoric times until the present.